February 20, 2024

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.” (Ephesians 4.18)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Once again, I would refer to the scene in Egypt when Israel was in exile after 400 years of servitude. It was near to the close of that age when God appeared to Moses to set Israel’s liberation into motion. When Moses returned the court of Pharaoh where he once was a prince before his own exile, it was with the command “Thus says Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob ‘Let My people go!’ The testimony of Moses tells us that the day had come when there was a Pharaoh who did not know the name of Jacob. That day had come. His testimony also said that “God hardened the heart of Pharaoh.” (Exodus 4.21) Does this sound capricious and controlling? For those who do not understand the use of the term “hardening of the heart,” it most certainly would. Under that assumption many have turned away from trusting God or believing in Yahweh Elohim as a God of free will. Nothing could be further from the truth. The “hardening of one’s heart” is the culmination of the “truth” versus the “lie.” We see such reality in today’s culture and climate. There are those who are so committed to “the lie” that the presentation of “the truth of God” is denied and plausibly deniable. We can see it in reverse in the Garden of Eden when Satan, posing as an intriguing serpent, momentarily “hardened the heart” of Eve and Adam so they would consider doubting the “truth of God.”

Considering this scenario in the “diametrically opposed” posits of the truth versus the lie, we can see how easily it was for Pharaoh’s heart to be hardened by God. In the mere presentation by Moses of the truth about “the God, Yahweh Elohim” over and against Pharaoh who himself believed he was a god in the court of Ammon-Ra the chief god of Egypt and all the lands which Egypt controlled, there is a hardening of the heart. Yahweh versus Ra, Ramses verses Moses. The central focus was moved from the centrist belief aforementioned (that of Ra/Ramses) to the God of the fringes and beyond (Yahweh and Moses.) Further, Moses represents the archetype of pre-messianic leadership as “prophet, priest and king (read judge).” This stands in staunch contrast with the position of Pharoah. Pharaoh may seem more like how we view the office of president in this country as one of three branches: executive (president); judicial (Supreme Court) and legislative (Congress- House and Senate.) It is little wonder why the promotion of the “separation of Church and State” carries so much confusion. The battle exists as to which is ladened with the burden of “truth.” Paul resolves this in part simply by repeating the teaching of Jesus “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” Paul also encourages respect for ruling authorities as an equal opportunity to respect the leadership of “The Church.” Of course, the true leadership of “The Church,” as we have reflected upon, is Jesus Christ (the Head of the Body, which is The Church.) But, as so often is the case when “the serpent” inserts its lying tongue the two (or three) are not as “one.” They become diametrically opposed and the consequence is a “hardening of the heart.”

It is with this in mind, that I would remind you of the call of the prophet of Ezekiel (chapter 36) who cries out “Remove from me this heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel, for himself and as a spokesperson for Israel, longed for the contradiction to be resolved. The longing for that great spiritual reboot was great. Only by the mercy and grace of God and the willingness of the people of God could this transformation be known. The list of that which “hardened” peoples’ heart toward themselves, one another, their neighbor, their enemies and ultimately God was long and detailed starting with the convolution of the Law. From the Shema to the Decalogue to the caveats made by judges and the group of leaders who would become pharisees, the Law had been cumbersome and impossible. The people had lost their abiity to truly love. Thus, we know that this “heart of flesh” for which Ezekiel longed was the hope of the messianic promise when the line of David would be restored and peace would reign. It is a call to authentic love and true righteousness.

Now, we can reflect back on Paul’s words to the Ephesians to not live life as if they were Gentiles. Paul is not calling those believers in Christ to be Jews. Jews and Gentiles had become diametrically opposed politically and thus the division was cloaked as their spirituality. In that, the Jews had forgotten this mission and purpose as God’s people. They were to be a light to the nations and draw all people to God. it was by their faithfulness and obedience to God’s word that those who were “afar off” would be brought near. So, it was that the Gentiles, and by extension the Gentile Christians, put equal pressure on being so “not Jewish” that their faith could easily resemble more of their former life than the new one they were called to. But, the reality is that God continues to harden the hearts of unbelievers with the truth that is undeniable. He desires that everyone of us would not only see and hear the truth but listen and become the truth. We are to follow in the steps of Jesus who chose neither Jew not Gentile as first and foremost but all people who came to Him seeking the truth, the way and the life.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, before we were conceived in the womb, You had already formed us in Your love and by Your Spirit spoke us into being. Each one of us is blessed with the opportunity of doing right, being good and producing the fruit of the Spirit so that others may be fed the truth of that same love so that the two will become one. It is our soul’s sincere desire to embrace the oneness You have in mind that we would know that we are Your people and that You are our God. Lead us in that discovery of the truth and the manifestation of that love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.